MILWAUKEE – The MSOE softball team scored a season-high 13 runs in game one to earn a doubleheader split against Wisconsin Lutheran Saturday afternoon at MSOE Athletic Field.
The Raiders (7-5, 1-1 NACC) won game one, but fell to the Warriors (6-6, 1-1 NACC) 8-0 in five innings in game two.
In the opening game, MSOE trailed 2-1 after three innings, but scored 12 over the final four innings to open NACC play with a win.
Senior Alyssa Brueser hit a two-run double to give the Raiders the lead in the fourth inning. Senior Julie Windish then made it 4-2 with an RBI double in the fifth. She came around to score when freshman Danielle Walsh followed suit with a single through the left side.
MSOE then plated four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to turn the game into a rout. Brueser had an RBI triple, sophomore Katie Ready had a run-scoring single and freshman Kailey Smith scored two with a single in the seventh.
In the final frame, sophomore Beth Young had a two-run single. Then, after junior Mikala Wendt scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Brueser, Young scored on a ground out to second.
Freshman Sara McConnell (4-1) turned in a strong performance on the mound. She scattered eight hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking none. Just one of the two WLC runs was earned and she closed out the game with four-straight strikeouts.
At the plate, McConnell led the team with three hits and drove in two runs. Brueser drove in four runs in the game and was one of four other Raiders to collect multiple hits in the game.
The Warriors jumped ahead early in the second game, scoring twice in the first inning, four times in the second and two more times in the third inning. The Raiders committed three errors in the first three inning, leading to four of those runs being unearned.
At the plate, MSOE mustered three hits off Kendra Thomas (6-3). She struck out four and did not walk a batter in the game. Freshman Shannon Curtis (2-3) got the start, throwing two innings and striking out two. Freshman Callie Wightman threw two innings of scoreless relief, with no hits, a strikeout and a walk.
Wisconsin Lutheran was the home team despite the games being played on the MSOE campus, as the doubleheader was originally scheduled for the WLC home field. The games were moved due to field conditions.
The Raiders return to action Sunday with a doubleheader against Concordia Wisconsin. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
